Strasbourg Cathedral’s famous medieval rose window is set in its west façade.
The rose is part of the cathedral’s monumental western front, begun in the Romanesque period and substantially developed in Gothic style. Its radiating stone tracery divides the circular opening into repeating sections, while colored glass fills the spaces between the stone elements.
The cathedral is especially notable for having a large rose window on the west front rather than the more usual emphasis on a tall central window. Strasbourg’s west façade also includes richly sculpted portals and a single completed tower, giving the building a distinctive profile.
This window should not be confused with the cathedral’s other stained-glass windows, many of which date from different periods and occupy the nave, choir, and chapels. The rose window is identified by its position on the principal entrance façade, facing the historic centre of Strasbourg.